CIF LA Sec. Playoff Preview: Underclassmen to Watch

Playoff season is here, with team aspirations for a deep run in the conference and statewide postseason. Most teams in the CIF have star players with ample experience as juniors or seniors. There are a select few, however, who will be relying on sophomores, and even freshmen, as their go-to players. It will be interesting to see how the ladies below perform under pressure. They have impressed all year, so expect huge performances to add to their prep careers thus far.    Leqi is a 2-way phenom who excels as a scorer and defender. Her ability to rack up steals throughout the course of a game is unreal. 4 or more steals in every single game but two this year! What Leqi gives you offensively is an aggressive, consistent scorer who is hard to keep out of the paint. She is far from one-dimensional and has shown to be a solid playmaker at times. There aren't many across the state with the confidence she possesses as a freshman. Leqi's season high of 32 points (12/21 shooting) against Bernstein High was a perfect example of her potential for the next four years. She has the ability to take the game over on both ends despite her youth.     San Fernando High School is 17-6 on the year and will be a force to reckon with in the playoffs. Celeste is their leading scorer, 2nd in steals, and 3rd in assists. Her all-around ability has done wonders for her teammates because she knows how to play the game the right way. After a slow start, Celeste has scored in double figures in every game since December 17. She is comfortable and in a great rhythm offensively. Celeste had a season-high, 27 points, against Panorama, so she can carry when necessary. Her reliability does wonders for San Fernando in close games. What she gives you night-in night-out as a scorer and defender is truly special.     Isis is quickly becoming one of the premier bigs in all of California. She has led Fremont High School to an 11-8 record on the year as their leading scorer. Isis went for 30 points in their season opener against Huntington Park. When she is locked in, Isis is a load to handle in the paint. Double and triple teams are sometimes the only way to contain her. Keep an eye on her these upcoming playoffs, as she can score 20+ in dominating fashion.     Maywood CES has a 7-2 league record this year, in large part because Carmen has arguably been their best player... as a freshman! She found her footing after the first few games and has scored in double figures every game since December 2! Carmen outscored the entire West Adams team with 28 points in their victory earlier this year. She has found her groove, and Maywood is a very dangerous playoff team as a result. Carmen also leads the team in steals and competes hard on both ends.     After a solid freshman season, Brooklyn has taken her game to another level. Her scoring ability is efficient and consistent. Brooklyn has a high basketball IQ and is very selective with the shots she takes, elevating team success and camaraderie. She is shooting nearly 40% from 3 this year, and is also a great guard rebounder. Brooklyn creates turnovers with her long arms. As the 2nd leading scorer behind fellow sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id='749389' first='Mila' last='Spencer'], Brooklyn is reliable, dependable, and someone to keep an eye on this postseason.     What Marisela has shown throughout her freshman season makes it clear that Reseda will be her team next year. She is the 3rd leading scorer behind two talented seniors in Zahra Numa and Olivia Rosales. As a result, she's had the opportunity to learn so much while still being a focal point. There have been multiple games this season where Marisela has starred as the leading scorer. Her versatility is impressive, and she can truly do-it-all. I've noticed she tends to play well in close games, so she is certainly a player to watch these upcoming playoffs.

Playoff season is here, with team aspirations for a deep run in the conference and statewide postseason. Most teams in the CIF have star players with ample experience as juniors or seniors. There are a select few, however, who will be relying on sophomores, and even freshmen, as their go-to players. It will be interesting to see how the ladies below perform under pressure. They have impressed all year, so expect huge performances to add to their prep careers thus far.